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Anderson Leads OSU Past Temple

PHILADELPHIA - In just his second start, Derek Anderson has learned to take advantage of a defense.

Anderson threw for 286 yards and four touchdowns, including two to James Newson, in Oregon State's 35-3 victory over Temple on Thursday night in the first meeting between the schools.

Steven Jackson ran for 117 yards on 25 carries, Newson had nine catches for 77 yards, and Mitch Meeuwsen had two interceptions for the Beavers (2-0).

Oregon State, a disappointing 5-6 last season after finishing No. 4 in 2000 and starting the year at No. 10, has won its first two games by a combined total of 71 points.

Temple (1-1) had just 222 total yards one week after beating Division I-AA Richmond 34-7.

Anderson, a 19-year-old sophomore, didn't play like a quarterback making his second start. He was 5-of-6 on Oregon State's first TD drive, 7-of-9 on its third one, and finished 33-of-51, completing passes to nine receivers.

'Their corners were sat back 10 yards and we knew we can get the short passes,' said Anderson, who had 345 yards passing and three TDs in a 49-10 victory over Division I-AA Eastern Kentucky last week. 'Our receivers made good plays.'

The Beavers took a 7-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter when Anderson hit Newson over the middle on a 15-yard TD pass. Oregon State converted two third downs during the drive, including a third-and-4 when Anderson hit Jayson Boyd for 13 yards.

A 3-yard TD pass from Anderson to Newson with 8 seconds left in the first half made it 14-0. The Beavers needed just 56 seconds to drive 66 yards in 10 plays. A 14-yard pass from Anderson to Newson on third-and-10 from Temple's 37 kept the drive going, and the two connected for a score four plays later.

'It's not an easy trip,' Oregon State coach Dennis Erickson said. 'We reacted well. We weren't playing well, but we hung in there and started making plays.'

The Owls, using a no-huddle offense for the second straight week, got inside Oregon State territory a few times in the first half, but came away without any points.

Zamir Cobb's 40-yard punt return gave Temple the ball at its own 40 midway through the first quarter. The Owls drove to Oregon State's 22, but Meeuwsen intercepted Mike McGann's pass at the 9 to end the drive.

Temple reached Oregon State's 35 early in the second, but Bill Swancutt sacked McGann on fourth-and-3.

Four plays after Dan Klecko stopped Jackson on fourth-and-inches to give Temple the ball at its 47, Meeuwsen intercepted a deep pass by McGann at the Beavers' 4.

The Owls cut it to 14-3 on a 39-yard field goal by Cap Poklemba midway through the third quarter. A late hit on McGann by Eric Manning - Oregon State's fifth personal foul in the game - kept the drive going after a third-and-10 pass was incomplete.

'We understand where we are and we have a long way to get to where we want to be,' Temple coach Bobby Wallace said.

The Beavers put it away with a 12-play, 80-yard drive capped by Anderson's 14-yard TD pass to Cole Clasen for a 21-3 lead late in the third. Anderson completed five consecutive passes, and converted two third downs.

Anderson's 7-yard TD pass to Shawn Kintner with 1:37 left made it 28-3, and Ryan Kanekeberg recovered a fumble in the end zone for a TD on the ensuing kickoff to provide the final margin.

McGann was 13-of-34 for 99 yards and threw three interceptions for the second straight game.